Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link is really four devices in one box. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect to the network without wires. There's also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100/1000 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together at up to GB speeds. The Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. Storage Link lets you easily add gigabytes of storage space onto your network using readily available USB 2.0 hard drives - or plug in a USB flash disk for a convenient way to access your portable data files. The built-in Media Server streams music, video, and photos from the attached storage device to any UPnP compatible media adapter. And you can get to your files from anywhere in the world through the Internet.

FEATURES

• Internet-sharing Router and 4-port Gigabit Switch, with a built in speed and range enhanced Wireless Access Point
• Also connects hard drive or flash-based USB storage devices directly to your network to share music, video, or data files
• MIMO technology uses multiple radios to create a robust signal that travels up to 4 times farther and reduces dead spots
• Up to 12 times faster than Wireless-G, but also works great with Wireless-G and -B devices

The Access Point built into this router uses the very latest in wireless networking technology -- Wireless-N (draft 802.11n). By overlaying the signals of multiple radios, Wireless-N's Multiple-In, Multiple-Out (MIMO) technology multiplies the effective data rate. Whereas ordinary wireless technologies are confused by signal reflections, MIMO actually makes use of these reflections to increase the range while reducing dead spots in the coverage area. This means the signal travels farther, maintaining wireless connections at up to three times the distance of standard Wireless-G, so the farther away you are, the more speed advantage you get. This Wireless-N router is fully backward compatible, so it works great with standard Wireless-G and -B devices, but when both ends of the wireless link are Wireless-N enabled, the router can increase the throughput even more by using twice as much radio band. This allows speeds up to 15 times that of standard Wireless-G. As a further convenience, unlike other speed-enhanced technologies, Wireless-N can dynamically enable this double-speed mode for Wireless-N devices, while still connecting to other wireless devices at their respective fastest speeds. For especially congested areas, there is a good neighbor mode that makes sure the router checks for other wireless devices in the area before gobbling up all the available radio band.

To help protect your data and privacy, this router can encode all its wireless transmissions with iron-clad, 256-bit Wireless Protected Access (WPA2) encryption. This unit can also serve as your network's DHCP server, includes a powerful SPI firewall to protect your all your PCs against intruders and most known Internet attacks, and supports VPN (Virtual Private Network) pass-through for the ultimate in network security. Despite all its features and functionality, configuration is simple and easy, thanks to the included web browser-based configuration utility. The incredible speed of Wireless-N and GB-wired networking is ideal for media-centric applications like streaming video, gaming, and voice-over-IP telephony, and gives you plenty of headroom to run multiple media-intense data streams through the network at the same time, without worrying about a degradation in performance.

System Requirements

• Microsoft Windows 2000, Vista or XP
• Includes AC adapter, Ethernet Cable, and software (though we highly recommend grabbing the latest software free from the linksys web site).

This product is in "like new" condition, and has been recertified by a technician, so you know you're getting a good product!  They are packaged in a sealed clear OEM style plastic bag. They are pre tested and come with ThriftyComputer's standard 30 day warranty, so your covered!